Picture Books

God's Little Flower, the Story of St. Therese of Lisieux

Book cover: God's Little Flower, the Story of St. Therese of Lisieux
Author(s): 
Chris Driscoll
Illustrator(s): 
Patrick Kelley
Number of pages: 
32 pages
Copyright: 
2001
ISBN / ID: 
1929039050
Publisher: 
Ambassador Books
Binding: 
Sewn Hardcover
Subject(s): 
Grade / Age level: 
Resource Type: 
Review: 

St. Therese of Lisieux is a very popular saint whose life story is easily understood by children. While not full of action and adventure, her life story's simplicity and sweetness are appealing to even the most worldly of children. This lovely picture book, with its carefully chosen vocabulary and sentence structures, is written on a level that will allow a 3rd-grade and up child to read it for himself or herself. The full-page illustrations are attractive, colorful, simple, and modern in style, adding to the story rather than overwhelming it.

God's Little Flower is not so much a biography but an age-appropriate explanation of St. Therese's spirituality. There are no dates or quotations or geography lessons slipped into the text, yet it manages to convey an even more important lesson–that of quiet, loving service to God through our prayers and sufferings.

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
9-3-02

Good Night, Little Sea Otter

Book cover: 'Good Night, Little Sea Otter'
Author(s): 
Janet Halfmann
Illustrator(s): 
Wish Williams
Copyright: 
2010
ISBN / ID: 
1595722546
Publisher: 
Star Bright Books
Binding: 
Softcover
Grade / Age level: 
Resource Type: 
Review: 
This sweet book is about Little Sea Otter saying good night to all sorts of ocean friends. While it makes a wonderful bedtime book, the illustrations deserve some time to be admired as you read through it. The story is straightforward, and yet contains enough tidbits to include it in an ocean study. The illustrations are full of color, bringing alive Little Sea Otter's story. You can preview the book at Star Bright Books: http://www.starbrightbooks.org/details.php?id=300
Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
4-17-2011

Greater Estimations

Author(s): 
Bruce Goldstone
Number of pages: 
31 pages
Copyright: 
2008
ISBN / ID: 
9781250079619
Publisher: 
Henry Holt & Company
Subject(s): 
Grade / Age level: 
Resource Type: 
Review: 

You may have enjoyed, like we have, Great Estimations in the past. I was happy to find in the library this week a brand new sequel by the same author!

Greater Estimations deals still with estimations, as as the cover says, it deals with greater estimations. Be prepared for some large numbers, and if you read it aloud it may generate some fun discussions! I had lunch today with my friend and neighbor Mary Daly, the author of the well-known homeschool science program entitled The Universe in My Hands, and over some awesome enchiladas after our bishop's pro-life mass we discussed how so few people have a good grasp of how many a million is. Or even one thousand. We went on to estimate the chips in the basket next to the yummy salsa!

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
January 22, 2009

Happy Birth Day!

Book cover: Happy Birth Day!
Author(s): 
Robie H. Harris
Illustrator(s): 
Michael Emberley
Number of pages: 
24 pages
Copyright: 
1996
ISBN / ID: 
9780613747332
Publisher: 
Candlewick Press
Binding: 
Sewn Hardcover
Grade / Age level: 
Resource Type: 
Review: 

This is a simple story of a mother describing her baby's first day after birth. It focuses on how the baby looks and acts and how much the baby is loved by the parents and extended family. The best part, I think, are the illustrations. The illustrator has wonderfully captured the lovable yet wrinkly face of a newborn and the beautiful excitement and exhaustion of bringing a new life into the world. It is a wonderful book for toddlers and other young children to read while anticipating the arrival of a new sibling.

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
6-22-04

How Do Bees Make Honey?

Book cover: How Do Bees Make Honey?
Author(s): 
Anna Claybourne
Number of pages: 
24 pages
Copyright: 
1994
ISBN / ID: 
9780746017654
Publisher: 
Usborne
Binding: 
Softcover
Grade / Age level: 
Resource Type: 
Review: 

A small, inexpensive book filled with pictures and lots of other information picture about bees and other insects. You'll learn how to tell bees apart from other insects, how bees live together in colonies and all about their beehives, how bees communicate with each other (my children have really enjoyed trying to re-enact the bee's dances) and of course how bees make honey. The one thing I didn't like is that the material is so disjointed because it jumps around between different kinds of insects.

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
1998-99

I could do that! Esther Morris gets Women the Vote

Author(s): 
Linda Arms White
Illustrator(s): 
Nancy Carpenter
Copyright: 
2005
Publisher: 
Farrar Straus Giroux
Binding: 
Sewn Hardcover
Subject(s): 
Grade / Age level: 
Resource Type: 
Review: 
This is a very cute book telling the true story of Esther Morris and the advent of the woman vote. The language is fun and accessible but it doesn't sugarcoat events. The eighth of eleven children and six foot tall, Esther had a interesting life and courage to spare. In this time of primaries, as we breathe politics in the air, this books brings a refreshing read!
Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
2-21-2008

Insects

Biggest! Littlest!
Book cover: Insects: Biggest! Littlest!
Author(s): 
Sandra Markle
Illustrator(s): 
Simon Pollard (photographer)
Copyright: 
2009
ISBN / ID: 
9781590785126
Publisher: 
Boyds Mills Press
Grade / Age level: 
Resource Type: 
Review: 

We have been spending hours in the garden where insects abound, and this new friendly title comes to entertain and inform my summer readers. The photos are very interesting and our 10 yr. old enjoyed reading about the reasons behind the dimensions of each of the unusually sized insects. The amount of information is juicy enough but also little enough to make this light and breezy summer reading!

Have fun learning about these insects: the most numerous animals on earth!

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
July 03, 2009

Jerome Lejeune: Saintly Geneticist

Book cover: Jerome Lejeune, Saintly Geneticist
Author(s): 
Ana Braga-Henebry
Illustrator(s): 
Anita Barghigiani
Number of pages: 
48 pages
Copyright: 
2024
ISBN / ID: 
9781685780975
Publisher: 
Word on Fire Votive
Binding: 
Hardcover
Grade / Age level: 
Resource Type: 
Review: 

A wonderful book that integrates faith and science!

Ana Braga-Henebry and Anita Barghigiani have created an engaging book about Venerable Dr. Jerome Lejeune, the father of modern genetics. This lovely book is instructive for all ages! The book includes a timeline of important events in the life of Dr. Lejeune with dates and photographs from pivotal moments in his life. The author shares the story of Dr. Lejeune's childhood, his marriage, and his work as a pediatrician.

As a researcher, Dr. Lejeune worked hard to discover the genetics underlying Down syndrome and other genetic conditions. This book is an inspiring story of faith and excellence in scientific research. The book seamlessly integrates the true story of a faithful Christian man who understood the importance of both faith and science.

Additional notes: 

Our own Ana Braga-Henebry is this lovely new book's author!

Also see our review of Life is a Blessing, a biography of Dr. Lejeune for high school students and adults.

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
05/30/2024

Jesus Feeds Everybody!

Book cover: Jesus Feeds Everybody
Author(s): 
Choi, Young-Jin
Kim, Jung-Cho
Copyright: 
2007
ISBN / ID: 
0819839876
Publisher: 
Pauline Books & Media
Subject(s): 
Resource Type: 
Review: 

Jesus Feeds Everybody! by Young-Jin Choi and Jung-Cho Kim, is an English translation of a board book originally published in Korea. The multiplication of the loaves and fishes came to life for Ramona. She loved this brightly illustrated book and I think she especially loved that it comes with a built-in ribbon handle for convenient toting.

A very happy Jesus, cute bunnies and lambs and its own handle ... Ramona was pleased.

Perspective: 
Catholic
Additional notes: 

I recently received a couple of new books from Pauline Books and Media and Ramona was taken with both of them. The books are this one, Jesus Feeds Everybody!, and The Easter Swallows by Vicki Howie.

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
April 05, 2007

Jonah and His Amazing Voyage (Bible Adventure Club)

Book cover: Jonah and His Amazing Voyage, Bible Adventure Club
Author(s): 
Janis Hansen
Illustrator(s): 
Wendy Francisco
Number of pages: 
36 pages
Copyright: 
2005
ISBN / ID: 
9781581343267
Publisher: 
Ascension Press
Binding: 
Sewn Hardcover
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 

Set sail on a stormy sea with Jonah and His Amazing Voyage as your young children learn about Bible stories in this light-hearted set from the Bible Adventure Club series.

Each kit includes a hard cover full-color picture story book, activity book, read-along audio cassette, interactive CD-Rom, and parents guide. The picture book is a simple retelling of the story of Jonah to appeal to younger children with bold, colorful, and cartoon-like illustrations. The audio cassette is a dramatized version of the story with original music to listen to while reading along with the book. The activity book includes fun facts, projects, mazes, and more. The interactive CD-Rom includes an animated story, original song, coloring book, word search, matching, puzzles, quiz game and light up puzzle (a scrambled puzzle that lights up when the squares are in order.). Some activities offer different levels of play.

Because of the light-hearted approach and the types of activities, this kit is designed for younger children. My five-year-old and eight-year-old daughters have enjoyed listening to the story many times as well as playing the many creative learning activities on the CD-Rom. Since there are a variety of activities on the CD-Rom and in the activity book, a wide range of younger children can enjoy this kit. Jonah and His Amazing Voyage is just one from a series of Bible Adventure Club kits. Other kits include Other kits include Creation:God's Wonderful Gift, Jesus:the Birthday of the King, Noah and the Incredible Flood, and David and his Giant Battle.

Additional notes: 

Includes Hardcover story book, activity book, CD-Rom and Cassette

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
10-29-05

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